Hillsborough County Small Claims Court (Florida): How to File in County Court

Hillsborough County small claims: the $8,000 limit, Tampa and Plant City divisions, fees, service, the pretrial hearing and HOVER case lookup. Checked 2026-10-27.

Where and how to file small claims in Hillsborough County, Florida.

Home › States › Florida › Hillsborough County

Quick answer: In Hillsborough County, small claims are heard by the County Court of the 13th Judicial Circuit, for claims up to $8,000 (not counting costs, interest and attorneys' fees). Cases go to a Tampa division or the East Division in Plant City, depending on where the defendant lives, where the claim arose or where the property is. Filing fees run $55 to $300, plus $10 per summons. The pretrial hearing is set within 50 days of filing. Clerk: (813) 276-8100.

Drawn generic courthouse beside a pinned info board for the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, with cases going to Tampa or the East Division in Plant City, clerk hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and e-filing set to check your court's rules, ask the Clerk. — Hillsborough County, Florida small claims at a glance, checked 2026-10-27.

This independent guide covers small claims cases in Hillsborough County, Florida, including Tampa, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Riverview and Valrico. Small Claims Coach is not the court; we link to the Clerk's and the court's official pages throughout.

Checked on 2026-10-27 against the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and 13th Judicial Circuit websites and the Florida Small Claims Rules. Sources are listed below. Jump to court addresses and phones ↓ For the statewide rules, see our Florida small claims guide.

Filing in Hillsborough County? See a filled-in sample first.

Everything on this page is free. The Small Claims Playbook adds a filled-in sample of the Florida Statement of Claim (for Work Done and Materials Furnished) (Form 7.332), using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

See what's in the Playbook →

Which court hears small claims in Hillsborough County?

Court: the County Court, 13th Judicial Circuit. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court handles filing.
Limit: up to $8,000, not including costs, interest and attorneys' fees (Florida Small Claims Rule 7.010(b)).
Service: the Clerk issues a summons, and the complaint and summons are served on the defendant by certified mail, sheriff or process server.
Pretrial hearing: set within 50 days of filing. The judge may hear your case and decide it then, or refer it to mediation.
Car accidents: the Clerk says you sue the owner and driver of the vehicle, not their insurance company.

Which division do I file in?

Plant City (East Division): under the court's Administrative Order S-2026-039, county civil cases go to the East Division in Plant City when a defendant resides within the East Division boundaries, the cause of action accrued there, or the property is located there.
Tampa: other county civil cases go to a Tampa division.
It's on you to say so. The order makes the self-represented plaintiff responsible for telling the clerk if the case belongs in the East Division.
Where's the line? In short, the East Division is east of a line running from the Pasco County line south on U.S. 301 to I-75, then along I-75, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dover Rd., Bloomingdale Ave., Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Fish Hawk Blvd., Bell Shoals Rd., Boyette Rd., Balm Boyette Rd. and County Road 579 to the Manatee County line (AO S-2024-079). It includes Plant City.
Tampa and Temple Terrace go to Tampa. Areas near the line, such as Brandon, Valrico, Seffner and Riverview, depend on which side of those roads the address sits. We didn't find a ZIP or address lookup. Call the Clerk at (813) 276-8100 if you're not sure.

Addresses, phone numbers and hours

From the Clerk's Service Options and Locations page and County Civil page. The County Civil page lists in-person County Civil service only at Downtown Tampa and Plant City. Mail: PO Box 3360, Tampa, FL 33601-3360.

Downtown Tampa: Edgecomb Courthouse

Address: 800 E. Twiggs Street, Room 101 (Customer Service Center), Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: (813) 276-8100

Clerk office:

Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plant City Courthouse

Address: 301 North Michigan Ave., Room 1071, Plant City, FL 33563

Phone: (813) 276-8100

Clerk office:

Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brandon Service Center

Address: 311 Pauls Drive, Brandon, FL

Phone: (813) 276-8100

Clerk office:

Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call before you go to file a small claims case here.

How much does small claims cost in Hillsborough County?

From the Clerk's Fees and Fines page (County Civil):

Claims less than $100: $55.00
$100 to $500: $80.00
$500.01 to $2,500: $175.00
$2,500.01 to $8,000: $300.00
Issuing a summons: $10.00
Each defendant over 5: $2.50 per defendant
Reopen: $25.00 (claims of $500 or less) or $50.00 (more than $500)
County appeal filing fee: $281.00 plus $2.00 certification; record-preparation fees may also apply

Certified mail and sheriff service amounts weren't confirmed on the pages we checked. Fees can change; confirm with the Clerk at (813) 276-8100 before you file.

Can I e-file in Hillsborough County?

We haven't confirmed e-filing options for people filing without a lawyer in Hillsborough small claims. Ask the Clerk at (813) 276-8100, or file in person at Downtown Tampa or Plant City.

Hillsborough County small claims forms

See the Clerk's County Civil page for small claims filing information, or ask at the Customer Service Center in the Edgecomb Courthouse.

How to file in Hillsborough County, step by step

Illustrated winding road with six numbered stations for Hillsborough County, Florida small claims: check your claim fits the limit, decide between Tampa and Plant City, prepare your statement of claim, file with the Clerk, have the defendant served, and go to the pretrial conference. — The steps to file a small claims case in Hillsborough County, Florida.

Make sure your claim is $8,000 or less, not counting costs, interest and attorneys' fees.
Decide whether your case belongs in Tampa or the East Division (Plant City), and tell the clerk if it's East.
Prepare your statement of claim. After a car accident, name the owner and the driver, not the insurance company.
File with the Clerk and pay $55 to $300, plus $10 per summons.
Have the defendant served by certified mail, sheriff or process server.
Go to the pretrial hearing (set within 50 days) with your evidence. The judge may decide the case or send it to mediation. Statewide rules are in our Florida guide.

Ready to fill in your own form?

The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one: a filled-in sample of the Florida Statement of Claim (for Work Done and Materials Furnished) (Form 7.332) with every box explained, plus your Florida Playbook section with a made-up sample filing, a timeline, a hearing outline, Florida printables, and a Florida day-of plan.

You also get prep guides that work in any state: a document checklist, exhibit labels, a prep timeline and a hearing-day outline. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

See what's inside →

How to look up a Hillsborough County small claims case

Use HOVER (Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records). The Clerk says many court records, indexes and dockets, plus non-confidential document images, can be viewed electronically.
We couldn't confirm what you can search by or whether you need to register. If you can't find your case, call the Clerk at (813) 276-8100.

What does it cost to collect a judgment?

Winning doesn't mean you get paid automatically. Hillsborough County's collection fees weren't on the pages we checked. Ask the Clerk at (813) 276-8100, and see our Florida guide for the statewide steps.

Fee waivers and venue changes

Fee waiver: ask the Clerk at (813) 276-8100 how to apply.

Coach's Tips for Hillsborough County

Tell the clerk about Plant City. If your case belongs in the East Division (Plant City), tell the clerk when you file. The court order puts that duty on you.
Car accident? Sue the people, not the insurer. After a car accident, name the owner and the driver as defendants, not the insurance company.
Be ready on day one. The judge can decide your case at the pretrial hearing, so bring your evidence.

Hillsborough County small claims checklist

My claim is $8,000 or less.
I know whether my case goes to Tampa or the East Division (Plant City).
I named the right defendants (owner and driver, for a car accident).
I know the filing fee for my claim amount, plus $10 per summons.
I have a plan to serve the defendant.
I'm ready for the judge to decide my case at the pretrial hearing.
My evidence is organized and copied for court.

Hillsborough County small claims FAQ

What is the small claims limit in Hillsborough County?

Up to $8,000, not including costs, interest and attorneys' fees, under Florida Small Claims Rule 7.010(b).

How much does it cost to file small claims in Hillsborough County?

The Clerk lists $55 for claims less than $100, $80 up to $500, $175 up to $2,500 and $300 above that, plus $10 for issuing a summons.

Which Hillsborough County division do I file in?

The East Division in Plant City if a defendant resides there, the claim arose there or the property is there; otherwise a Tampa division. You must tell the clerk if your case belongs in the East Division.

Where is small claims court in Tampa?

The Clerk's Customer Service Center is in Room 101 of the Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa. It's open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How do I look up a small claims case in Hillsborough County?

Use the Clerk's HOVER system at hover.hillsclerk.com, or call the Clerk at (813) 276-8100.

Where do I get Hillsborough County small claims forms?

See the Clerk's County Civil page, or ask at the Customer Service Center in the Edgecomb Courthouse.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Hillsborough County?

No. Many people handle small claims themselves. The judge may decide the case at the pretrial hearing, so come prepared.

Is Hillsborough County small claims part of County Court (County Civil)?

Yes. It's handled in County Court, 13th Judicial Circuit (County Civil).

What is a Statement of Claim in Hillsborough County small claims?

It's the filing that starts a Florida small claims case. Under Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.050(a)(1), "Actions are commenced by the filing of a statement of claim in concise form, which shall inform the defendant of the basis and the amount of the claim."

Sources

Checked 2026-10-27.

Nearby counties

More for Florida: Florida small claims guide · Ready to sue · Just got sued · How to serve small claims papers · What to say on hearing day

Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).

You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.

This page covers where and how to file in Hillsborough County. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of the Florida Statement of Claim (for Work Done and Materials Furnished) (Form 7.332), your Florida Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

See the Playbook →

Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer. But if your situation is complicated, doesn't fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.

Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.